Sir, I don't think I need to tell you that the level of respect with which the staff speaks of you doesn't change, depending on whether or not you're in the room.
But?
Well, there's always been a concern about the two Bartlets. The absent-minded professor with the 'Aw, Dad' sense of humor. Disarming and unthreatening. Good for all time zones. And the Nobel Laureate. Still searching for salvation. Lonely, frustrated, lethal.
You're gonna sing a country western song?
The one whose father never liked him because he was too smart.
This stopped being fun for me a little while ago.
Sir?
It was actually never fun for me. I was just being polite.
[pause] Your father used to hit you, didn't he, Mr. President?
Excuse me?
Your father used to hit you, sir?
[pause] Yeah.
Not like a spanking.
He hit me. Why?
He punched you.
I'm done being polite now.
He did it because you made him mad, but you didn't know why.
Toby, it was a complicated relationship. Can I help you?
It was because you were smarter than he was.
It was a complicated relationship.
He didn't like you, sir. That's why he hit you. That's why people hit each other. He didn't like you. You were smarter than he was.
Why are we talking about this?
So maybe if you get enough votes, win one more election, maybe your father will--
You have stepped WAY over the line, and any other President would have your ass on the sidewalk right now.
Yes, sir.
They would've had you on the sidewalk a long time ago. I don't know what the hell goes on in a Brooklyn shrink's office, but get it the hell out of my house!
Thank you Mr. President. [he leaves]
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